Dominion's Project Plant It!® Grows in New States to Cultivate Learning

- Now in 11th year, program branches out to four states in western U.S.
- More than 400,000 free tree seedlings distributed since 2007
- Program provides STEM-based lesson plans and other tools to educators

RICHMOND, Va., April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Plant It!, the environmental education program created by Dominion Resources to educate children and plant trees, is branching out into new areas of the United States in 2017. Dominion's recent merger with Questar Corporation added four new states to the Project Plant It! family: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.

The program is offered in all areas served by Dominion and more than 50,000 children are enrolled this year. Participants include elementary, middle and high schools, as well as scout troops, preschools, home schools and church groups, among others.

Each participating child will receive a free redbud tree seedling to plant at home for Arbor Day on April 28. The program's website, www.projectplantit.com, provides many resources for interactive learning, such as an Educator's Guide with STEM-based lesson plans, games and instructional videos.

"This year marks our eleventh with Project Plant It!, and we're pleased that the program continues to engage thousands of children in learning about the many benefits of trees to the ecosystem," said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Foundation, the charitable arm of Dominion Resources. "More than 400,000 tree seedlings have been distributed since 2007 in states served by Dominion. Project Plant It! is one of the many ways that Dominion supports educators and invests in local communities."

Many educators and group leaders look forward to Project Plant It! every spring, including Johna Vazquez, instructional technology resource teacher with Petersburg City Public Schools.

"Since our school system became involved in this enriching program a number of years ago, more than 3,000 students have engaged with nature in a very personal and meaningful way," said Vazquez. "Thanks to Project Plant It!, they'll always remember the experience of planting their own tree and watching it grow over the years."

Project Plant It! was established in 2007 to educate children, plant trees and improve the environment. The redbud tree seedlings are grown and shipped to participants in April by the Arbor Day Foundation, a longtime partner with Dominion. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, another long-standing partner, the 400,000 tree seedlings distributed since 2007 equate to about 1,000 acres of new forest if all of the seedlings are planted and grow to maturity.

For more information, visit www.projectplantit.com. For recent photos, visit the ProjectPlantIt! Facebook page.

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy. The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well-being of the communities served by Dominion companies. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education and encourage community vitality. For more information, visit www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion

For further information: Cora Argotti, 804-771-6115, Cora.M.Argotti@dom.com; or Charles Penn, 703-796-9308, Charles.Penn@dom.com; or Bonita Harris, 757-857-2700, Bonita.B.Harris@dom.com; or Rayhan Daudani, 804-771-6115, Rayhan.Daudani@dom.com